American Idol Top 12 Finalists Revealed

American Idol is down to the top 12 — and they include a male stripper, an actress and a former professional recording artist whose album failed. Host Ryan Seacrest announced that more than 36 million votes came in to pick the top 12. Sent home? A teary Danny Noriega , 18, the snarky contestant who was splashed all over the internet thanks to an angry YouTube video he made. 18-year-old Kady Malloy ’s spot-on Britney Spears impersonations didn’t save her either. Luke Menard , 29, and Asia’h Epperson , 19 — who was called a “second-rate” Whitney Houston by Simon Cowell on Wednesday’s show after singing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” — also were sent packing . Among the remaining are David Archuleta , 17, who won Star Search at age 12; David Hernandez, 24, who was a stripper until last September; Syesha Mercado , 21, last seen in a Ford commercial; and Carly Smithson , whose debut album on MCA Records cost $2 million to make, but only sold a few hundred copies.  ... (link)